Machine for treating photographic prints with fluids.



C. BARBIERi & P. CARPE WER. MAc'm'Ne ma TREMm-s fHomGnAP'Hsc Farms wma mums.

APPUCATION FILE DLC. i6, 19H. RENEWED JUNE 3. iSiB.

CESARE BARBIERI-AID P AUL CARPENTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Meer-LINE non *rnEATING PHoToGnAPHIo PRINTS WITH rLUrDs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Application led December 1G, 1911, Serial No. 666,227. Renewed .Tune 3, 1918. Serial No. 238,034.

To all 'whom/t may concern Be it known that we, CESARE BARBIERI and PAUL CARPENTER, respectively a subject of the King of Italy and a citizen of the United States, and 'both residents of G111- cago, 'in the county of'Cook and-State of Illinois, have invented certainfnew and useful Improvements in rMachines for Treating Photographic Prints `with iFluids, of Whic the 'following :is a specification.

Our present invention relates in general to machines for treating `with iuidsphotographicprnts whichl require treatment by fluids subsequent to exposure to light, and has special reference to the' construction of an improved type of so-,called continuous machine adapted for treatingand washing the prints either subsequently or independlently of printing'them.

such purpose; and generally-'to improveI cheapen and simplify the construction ov machines for treating and washing photographic prints subsequent to their exposure to light embodyin one or more of the several steps referred to, together with such further objects as will hereinafter appear.

Machines available atthis day for certain of the purposes referred to, as known to us, are objectionable in that they lack adequate means for washing such prints (even were they otherwise satisfactory) with suihcient f''apidity, and lack effective means for drying the prints 'after' washing; and the prints made by such machines are generally delivered in a crinkled condition. Such machines also have further disadvantages sugggested by the above stated objects and known to those -who are skilled in the art to which our invention pertains.

In overcoming certain disadvantages relterred to and in attaining the foregoing obj eots'and certain additional benefits and advantages to be below disclosed we have provided the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-a side eleva-tional view is shown, partly in section, with certain parts removed for the sake of clarity, illustrating -a -preferred form of machine-embodyiny our invention.

On inspection of the drawings it will be observed that we have shown only that part of a machine lfor making photographic prints which relates to the treatment of such prints with iuids after they have been exposed to the action of light.

The vapparatus is conveniently supported by parallel frame members 10, l1 suitably spaced apart, the said frame members and the mounting for the parts being substantially duplieatedffor both sides of the machine.

Theprinted paper as it leaves the photoprinting apparatus is caused to pass under the roll V(i0 during its progress toward the rearof the machine, during which time the printed sensitized surface of the paper is downwardly disposed. To the end that a minimum amount of fluid be absorbed by theipaper, and -dissipation of fluid, stretching of the paper and loss of time in drying With 'consequent increase of expense and 'lowering of volume of production, be avoided, we prefer to treat the under surface only 'ofthe paper; This mode of procedure enables us to prevent an accumulated water bath on the paper with consequent saturation thereof and saves the expense of complicated stretching devices, not to mention other obvious advantages.

'In order that this printed surface may now be subjected to vtreatment by the required luid yfor treating the print, we employ one or more, as may be required, of a series of treating devices, which we will now describe in connection with a preferred form of apparatus for fixing blue-prints,

viz.:

In carryingout the stated procedure we pass the'printed paper as it leaves the roll 60 over a series of rolls lhere including a roll 61, a series of rolls 62, 63, 64 and a roll 65, all of which are desirably provided with a rubber surface not alone to resist the action of the water or other fluid but also to prevent relative slippage between them and the paper. Of these rolls 65 is the only one positively driven, -the others being rotated by the movement of the paper itself. The roll 65 is driven from the motor 140 by means of the worm 152, worm wheel 153, sprocket 15321, chain 23, sprocket 33, bevel gears 160 and 161, shaft 162 and bevel gears 1612l and 1603.

At some convenient point between the rolls 60 and 61 we arrange a connection 66 to a source of treating fiuid, and provide splash plate 67 coperating therewith, whereby the printed surface is given its initial wash. To catch any fluid which may perchance drip from the sheet 31 a drip tank 68 having, if desired, discharge through a drain pipe 69 is mounted immediately below the roll 6() whose periphery should be below the periphery of the roll 34 in order to insure thatl any drippage there may be will fall into the tank 68.

Where a second fluid treatment is desirbetween the rolls 61 and v62, and where a third fiuid treatment is desirable a like arrangement embodying similar elements, indicated at 73, 74, 75, is Vemployed to on the run between the rolls 64 and 65.

In order to avoid scraping and hence marring the surface of the paper. 31, the splashplates are preferably arranged so as not to contact therewith but to be' closely adjacent the planes of travel thereof. i i y In they maufacture of blue prints, the connections 66 and 73 would be supplied by water fromtheinlet pipe 76, for softening and washing-off and clarifying the printed surface, respectively, andthe drain pipe 69 would dischargeinto the sewerage system,

but the connection 7() would be supplied with a solution of potash for fixing the prints which solution could be used repeatedly. tween the connection `70 and the. drip tank 7 2 a suitable pump .7 7 communicating therewith by means of pipes 7 8 and 79.

F or a three fold purpose, rst: to prevent mixture of the potash solution and the washoff water and consequent dilution and weakening of such solution; second: to remove any excess potash solution 'and moisture remaining on the surface of the paper; and, third: to tension the paper and compensate for any tendency toward stretching thereof, we interpfose between the rolls 62 and 64, which are preferably rotatably mounted with their axes Xed against vertical movement relatively to the frame, a third roll 63, over which the paper passes. The last mentioned roll has a fioating axis by virtue of the fact that it is carried in journals mov'- able vertically in slots 77a provided in the` frame, and that such journals are yieldingly resistantly supported by springs 7 8 one not Ne therefore arrange in circuitbe-' shown against the tendency of the paper to de ress the roll.

ince the rolls 62, 63, 64 rotate in the directions indicated by the arrows the rear margin of the tank 72 should be arranged behind the aXis of the roll 63 in order to catch any drippings therefrom consequent upon the pressure exerted upon the sheet passing between the rolls 62 and 63.

F rom the foregoing description it will be manifest that by the use of our improved arrangement of the paper in angularly disposed runs, we are enabled to subject it to a plurality 0f treatments by fluid without increasing the height of the machine, thereby requiring a large amount of head-room and that devices for additional fluid treatments may readily be added without materially adding to the length of the machine with consequent increase in the floor space required for its installation.

The paper after leaving the roll 64 passes upward `to the rolls 80, 65 and 90 of a drying apparatus described in a co-pending application. l

F or actuating the several parts of the machine,we have above described, we provide suitable driving mechanism preferably employing therein as here shownan electric motor 140 having suitable connections as indicated at 141, 142, to a source of current .supply (not shown). On the motor shaft 143 zwe provide a pinion 144 driving a gear 145 on'a shaft 146 having a sprocket 147 by means of which the pump 7 7 is driven through a chain 148 and pinion 149. Moreover-,since the pump 77 as Well as the several rolls arel all driven by the same motor, the operation of the device is greatly simplified. Furthermore' inasmuch as the bearings of the members 34, 146, 60,61, 62, 63, 64, 8O and 65 are in alinement, it is apparent that in theconstruction of a machine embodying our improvements we have provided as far as may be against distortion of the paper in its passage therethrough.

In view of'thepforegoing specification, it is thought that a more amplified description of the operation of the machine will be unnecessary and that it will be readily under stood by those who are skilled in the art to which our invention pertains.

Havingthus described our invention and illustrated its use, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A n apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, means for producing a stream of fluid, means for treating therewith one surface of a print produced photographically, and means for removing excess fluid from the treated surface while moving in an upward direction after it leaves said treating stream.

2. An 'apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination means for producing astream of fluid, means for treating therewith one surface only of a print produced photographically, and means for squeezing excess fluid from the print while moving in an upward direction.

3. An apparatus `of the characterkv described comprising, in combination, means for producing a stream of fluid, means for treating therewith one surface only of a print produced photographically, and apair of pressure rolls for removing excess fluid from the print while moving in an upward direction. y A

Ll. An apparatus for treating aY sheet of paper with a plurality of fluids'comprising, in combination, a plurality'of oppositely disposed sheet guiding devices whereby the sheet may be guided in a plurality of runs, and a plurality of fluid supply means whereby different fluids may be vapplied successively to the under surfaces of said several runs of the sheet.`

5. An apparatus forftreating a sheet of paper with a plurality of fluids comprising, in combination, a plurality of oppositely `disposed sheet guiding devices whereby the sheet may be guided in a plurality of runs,

a plurality of fluid supply means whereby different fluids may be applied successively to the under surfaces of said several runs vof the sheet, and means interposed between said several fluid supplies whereby excess fluid may be removed from one of said runs of the sheet before fluid is applied to the sheet in another run thereof.

6. An apparatus for treating a sheet of paper with a plurality of fluids comprising, in combination, a plurality of oppositely disposed sheet guiding devices whereby the sheet may be guided in a plurality of runs, and a plurality of fluid supply means whereby different fluids may be applied successively to the under surfaces of said several runs of the sheet, one of said guiding devices being arranged for the removal of excess fluid applied to one of said runs from one of said fluid supplies before said run is exposed to fluid from another of said fluid supplies.

7. In an apparatus for treating a sheet of paper with a plurality of fluids, a plurality of upper sheet guiding devices and a plurality of lower sheet guiding devices arranged to guide a sheet in a plurality of runs arranged at an angle to each other, a plurality of means for applying fluids to the under sides of said several runs in succession, and catch basins below 'said fluid supplies for receiving the excess of the fluids applied to said runs.

8. In an apparatus for treating a sheet of paper with a plurality of fluids, a plurality of upper sheet guiding devices and a plurality of lower sheet guiding devices arranged to guide a sheet in a plurality of runs arranged at an angle to each other, a plurality .of means for supplying fluids `to the under sides of said several runs in succession, and catch` basins below said fluid supplies for receiving the excess of the fluids applied to said runs,"said lower sheet guid-v ing devices being arranged to discharge ex-` cess/fluids from said runs into said catch basins. f

9. An `apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a plu` rality of sources of fluid for treating a print produced photographically, and variable tensioning means interposed between said sources of fluid and adapted to act uponl produced photographically, one thereof be-` ing adapted to direct fluid to the bottom surface of the print only, a receiver for fluid from said last mentioned source, and a plurality of rolls interposed between said sources of fluid and adapted to act upon the print to remove excess liquid therefrom and direct it into said receiver, for'preventing mixture of the fluids.

11. An apparatus ofl the character described comprising, in combination, a plurality of sources of fluid for treating a print produced photographically, and three rolls interposed between said sources of fluid and adapted to act upon the print, two of said rolls being arranged for restraining the mixture of said fluids, and the third being arranged for tensioning the print.

12. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a plurality of sources of fluid for treating a print produced photographically, and three rolls interposed between said sources of fluid and adapted to act upon the print, two of said rolls being arranged for restraining the mixture of said fluids, and the third being arranged for removing fluid from the print.

13. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a plurality of sources of fluid for treating a print produced photographically, and three rolls interposed between said sources of fluid and adapted to act upon the print, two of said rolls being arranged for restraining the mixture of said fluids, and the third bearing on the other two and being arranged for tensioning the print and removing fluid therefrom.

14. An apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a source of treating fluid, a paper supply, means for moving the paper past the source of fluid, means for directing a stream of fluid to the bottom surface only of the paper and means for removing excess fluid therefrom while iio moving in an upward direction whereby the accumulation of fluid thereon is normally prevented.

l5. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a plurality of sources of fluid, a paper supply, means for moving the paper past the sources of fluid, and means for directing separate streams of fluid from said sources to the bottom surface of the paper while moving substantially vertically whereby the accumulation of fluid thereon is normally prevented.

16. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a plurality of sources of fluid, a paper supply, means for moving the paper past the source of fluid, and means for directing separate streams of fluid from said sources to different portions of the bottom surface of the paper while moving substantially vertically whereby the accumulation of fluid thereon is normally prevented.

17. An apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a plurality of sources of fluid, a paper supply, means for moving the paper past the sources of fluid, means for successively deflecting the paper into dierent substantially vertical planes, and means for directing Ieparate fluid supplies from said sources to portions of the bottom surface of the paper in such substantially vertical planes whereby the accumulation of' fluid thereon is normally pre4v vented.

18. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a source of water supply, a source of' treating fluid supply, a supply of photographically printed paper, means for moving the paper past the said sources of fluid, and means for directing first Water, then treating fluid, and finally Water again to the under surface of the paper, whereby said paper surface is first softened by said water, the print there-y upon then flXed by said treating fluid, and the excess treating fluid finally removed by water and the print clarified without accumulation of fluid on said paper.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses.

CESARE BARBIERI. PAUL CARPENTER.

lVitnesses JOHN G. CURRIE, MARTI-IA WESTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

